Contents
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Sylvia
Overview
Sylvia discovers the Urabi’s hidden river route and endures a crocodile-led push beneath the Desert Flats toward Omal. At camp, she learns Felix’s raids now threaten Mahair and erupts at the Urabi for hiding it. Rejecting their original plan to reach Queen Hanan, Sylvia forces a diversion to defend Mahair, with Namsa pledging victory. Lateef warns Arin will come; Sylvia welcomes the confrontation.
Summary
At the waterfall concealing Hirun’s entrance, Sylvia confirms her suspicion that the Urabi have been moving via the underground river. Kenzie reveals her Rivertamer magic by summoning crocodiles to carry the group. Sylvia panics at first, but Namsa steadies her and vouches for Kenzie’s control.
The group travels sixteen hours underwater beneath the Desert Flats toward Omal. They camp on Essam’s edge, where Medhat flirts and displays his fire magic while the exhausted party warms themselves and rests. Sylvia unexpectedly sleeps soundly.
Waking to hushed voices, Sylvia overhears Efra, Namsa, Maia, and Lateef discussing Felix Omal’s recent reprisals: raids destroyed Gahre and Alyub, and Mahair is likely next. Furious they concealed this, Sylvia confronts them, asserting her claim to Mahair and rejecting being used solely to petition Queen Hanan or to risk raising the fortress on Nuzret Kamel.
Efra questions whether Sylvia runs toward danger, provoking her. Lateef rebukes Efra, but the damage is done; Sylvia demands a choice. Namsa steps forward and commits the Urabi to fight for her, promising not just support but victory. The team pivots from the Omal palace plan to a route that diverts into Mahair.
As they rework the map, Lateef warns that Arin is near and will come if he hears of Mahair. Sylvia acknowledges the risk and, confident, resolves to meet him, determined to defend Mahair and defy both Felix’s reprisals and Arin’s hunt.
Who Appears
- Sylvia (Essiya)Protagonist; confirms the river route, rides crocodiles, learns Mahair is targeted, and redirects the mission to defend it.
- NamsaDefends telling Sylvia the truth and pledges the Urabi to fight for her, promising victory in Mahair.
- EfraSkeptical and abrasive; helped plan the journey, insults Sylvia’s resolve, and is rebuked for secrecy.
- LateefUrabi leader; initially withholds news of raids, warns Arin will come, and pushes the group to prepare.
- MaiaUrabi ally; part of the group that hid the raids, urges honesty with Sylvia.
- KenzieRivertamer who controls crocodiles; enables the underwater passage toward Omal.
- MedhatWakeel el-nar with fire magic; flirts, keeps spirits up, and helps reroute plans toward Mahair.
- ArinAntagonist hunter; absent but looming, expected to move on Mahair once news spreads.
- Felix OmalOmalian heir; orders raids that destroyed Gahre and Alyub and threatens Mahair.